Vacationing on the Turkish Riviera offers so much, but high on the list is paragliding in Oludeniz. Soaring like a bird over beaches, lagoons and boats is an experience like no other and paragliding in Oludeniz is perhaps as perfect a locale as possible.
Professional piloting
Mount Babadag is the backdrop and launching point at an altitude of almost 1980 meters (6500 feet), making it a prime location for paragliding in Turkey. It takes about an hour to reach the launching area from Oludeniz and the fee includes a very scenic Jeep ride up the mountain. Every paragliding trip has two people, or what is known as tandem paragliding – the customer and a certified paragliding operator – so that you can concentrate on taking in the magnificent views.
The take-off
Upon reaching the launching area, paragliders are suited up with all the necessary safety equipment and wait patiently for their turn to be launched, which is similar to watching planes waiting for take off at an airport. The “puller” holds on to the customer as he waits for clearance to launch, and when ready he starts to run towards the mountain’s edge with the customer and pilot running as well as the big wing unfurls behind. The continuous wind at this altitude quickly finds the wing and another excursion of paragliding in Oludeniz takes off.
Life above
The skies over Oludeniz are full of paragliders and from that vantage point it’s possible to see far down the Turkish coast and out over the Mediterranean Sea that stretches in front and eventually disappears into a soft heliotropic haze. Looking down on the white sands of Oludeniz beach and Blue Lagoon area makes one unmistakably realize why this region is such a popular tourist resort. In fact, it is at the Blue Lagoon that resembles the point at the end of a curved exclamation mark of white sand where paragliders float back to Earth after a journey that lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, with the entire trip from beach to beach taking two to two and a half hours. At the end you will understand why many claim Oludeniz is the best area for paragliding in Turkey, if not Europe.
Money well spent
Judging by the number of “sails” riding the thermals, there are a number of businesses offering this activity. Some major ones are Sky Sports Paragliding (www.skysports-turkey.com), Easy Riders Paragliding (www.easyridersparagliding.com), Focus Tours & Paragliding Co.Ltd. (www.focusparagliding.com), and Hector Tandem Paragliding (www.hectorparagliding.com). Prices are very competitive and it pays to shop around with an offered range from £55 – £70 (140–170 lira, €64 -€81, $83-$106). If interested, one on one tandem paragliding instruction is offered in learning to become a solo flyer. It’s advisable to book early in a vacation as this air sport is obviously weather dependent with Summer being the ideal time of year.
The major paragliding companies have full insurance and customers are advised to dress comfortably and wear laced shoes such as joggers. For an additional cost, a DVD can be made of the flight and, of course, bring your camera.
©2013
Richard Hand sampler 